Mains Archives - Sumit Kumar Rai IAS

GS-3 strategy: Sumit Kumar Rai( AIR 54)

I have been getting lot of requests to share my strategy for GS-3 given the marks I have in this paper.( I got 119 in GS-3)

Please note following points in this regard. I have skipped some generic suggestions and highlighted few which might lead to marks augumentation.

Be updated with facts and figures on various aspects of economy: Sectoral contribution of GDP(Agriculture, industries, services), employment scenario. Within agriculture what is the contribution of cereal crops, non-cereal crops in farmers income, what is average farmers income, NPA and bad loans etc. Similar facts on other aspects of economy need to be prepared.
Use these facts and figure to strengthen your arguments.
Use charts and diagrams wherever possible ( Avoid overdoing though)
For GS-3 committee and commission names and their recommendations are important. Hence keep an eye on such committees, note down their central points.
Economic survey: do this religiously and use its suggestions in answers. Make Short notes of various chapters.
NITI ayog’s 3 years action agenda: many great suggestions are there which can be written in your answers.
Keep visiting NITI website. It keeps releasing new reports which might be useful for GS-3 like report on mobility, tackling air pollution in Delhi etc. These will add value to your answer.
Read Sendai framework document, read NDMP-2016. These will give you administrative skeleton ( accountability matrix) of disaster management. This will be handy in answering DM questions.
Use columnists and their central ideas. For example Isher Judge Ahulwalia wrote about Ambikapur model of SWM. I used this example in SWM question in this year’s mains. Such usage increases your credibility and helps in boosting marks.
Extending point 9, list down certain key columinst and keep an eye on their ideas, opinions. For example if there is a question on unemployment controversy in CSE-19, you can talk about how NITI Ayog’s CEO, Amitabh Kant highlights the issues in Calculation methodology of CSO. So preparation on these lines should be done. Similarly Ashok Gulati can be mentioned for agriculture issues.
Look for toppers copy and look for how they present their ideas on paper. I learnt many new diagrams and new ideas from Anudeep Durishetty( Rank 1, CSE2017) and other toppers through their written test papers.
When you read compilations or vision 365( Economics, Environment, security, Science & Tech) make Short, effective notes which are reproducible in exams.I have shared my GS-3 notes on these links. Have an idea on how to prepare notes for GS-3.

General Studies Notes by Sumit Kumar Rai on IWRA

Until next time,

SKR

Ethics Answer Copy- Analysis & Tips by Sumit Kumar Rai (AIR 54)

I am uploading one of my ethics copies. I would request you all to focus on practical examples, writing your own definitions in simple languages and breaking a general statement into parts to make it ready for analysis. Re-read question many times if the language seems tough ( as it happens in few questions).

How to utilize this copy: First read the question and think yourself what you would have replied/answered for this question and then read the answer. This is called reverse learning. I also used to do the same when I used to go through the toppers copy. So, you can get other toppers copies and try the same analysis. It will definitely improve your ethics answer writing. Also, don’t be under the impression that all of my answers are excellent. Many of you might write beautiful answers than what I have written. I also used to write mediocre answers and it might happen in few questions that you might not do justice to the question demands. Consider all these as learning blocks and improve answer-by-answer, test-by-test. Remember: Practice makes an aspirant perfect.

In following paragraphs I would be analyzing few of my questions from this test paper and will try to bring your attention to few aspects:

Explain the new term: When you get a new term in a question, try to explain it first. Sometimes a simple definition makes a good enough introduction. This can be referred as definitional approach of introduction. For example see how I tried to define what I mean by Institutionalized Corruption.
Write definition of terms like attitude, aptitude, integrity, honesty etc in your own language. Write examples to substantiate your points, rather than simply writing theories and theories. Examples shows your understanding, let examiner know that you understand the matter at hand.
A statement might look simple when given as a question. But you have opportunity to write a great answer by showing your understanding. Again your examples and arguments, art of substantiation matters. See this question on ” Those who know don’t talk and those who talk don’t know. Comment”.

PFA the answer copy. https://secureservercdn.net/198.12.145.38/k1r.f20.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/SUMIT-KUMARI-RAJ.-ETHICS-TEST-3.pdf-2_1.pdf

Link for some useful topper’s copies

Hello guys,
We all know that toppers copies can be a useful source for improving your answer writing. Based on a quick discussion amongst few selected candidates we have come up with a curated list for all of you to go through some copies. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, neither has it captured all the good copies that are there. We are trying to reduce the scatteredness and bringing some useful copies at one place.

Happy scanning!

Kanishak Kataria, AIR 1: (Below text as written by Kanishak)
I have uploaded my evaluated Mains and Essay test series copies on my dropbox folder.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/px298yystx0779x/AABqiBXgasa0P5UMYguKXJc7a?dl=0
It was the 1st time I was attempting any test or essay, thus there is a lot of scope for improving all the answers. You can get a fair understanding of the level of my answers, my general habits while writing plus the quality of evaluation done.
Shreyans Kumat, AIR 4: You can find his copies in his telegram channel link: https://t.me/shreyansupsc
Namrata Jain, AIR 12: GS marks-464: http://www.visionias.in/resources/toppers_answers.php (Other toppers copies also available here)
Dhodmise Trupti Ankush, AIR 16;GS marks-460: :http://www.visionias.in/resources/toppers_answers.php (Other toppers copies also available here)
Akshay Agrawal, AIR 43: You can find his copies and notes at https://akshaybrotherhood.home.blog/
He also shares daily GS questions for practice and addresses the queries in the comment, if any.
Sumit Kumar, AIR 53: (Below text as written by Sumit)
I shared mine on demystifycse. In total, I have shared 6 copies. 2 GS copies (1 GS 2, 1 GS 3) are such in which I have scored low marks (70s). The other 2 are improved ones of GS 2 and GS 3 only in which I scored above 100. It would be helpful for the aspirants if they compare the previous 2 with the latter 2.Rest 2 copies are of Ethics. These copies are of 2017 Mains test series. I didn’t give any tests papers for Mains 2018.
GS Marks in GS 2017: 453; GS 2018: 435
Link: http://demystifycse.in/general-studies-mains-notes-sumit-kumar-air-53/
Sumit Kumar Rai, AIR 54: I have shared one of my ethics copies here
http://demystifycse.in/ethics-answer-copy-analysis-tips-by-sumit-kumar-rai-air-54/
I have scored 119 in GS-3 and have been approached by many for GS-3 strategy. Below is the link for same:
http://demystifycse.in/gs-3-strategy-sumit-kumar-rai-air-54/
Other copies can be found in my telegram channel: https://t.me/iwrapinkmanww
Nidhi Siwach, AIR 83: Full length 4 tests are shareable as they are close to how she attempted in final paper and got decent score in GS.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1I2A8TnqT3cbZ-afVtP1eYo6KGem8ar85
Hitesh Kumar Meena,AIR 417: Hitesh has decent GS marks(439) this year and his copies might be useful to you. I have shared few of his copies in my telegram channel:
https://t.me/iwrapinkmanww
“Essay Kaise?” by Vikram Grewal, AIR 51. He has scored 161 in essay this year. http://besankahalwa.blogspot.com/2019/07/essay-kaise-by-vikram-grewal-air-51.html?m=1

Also please have a look at these posts:

http://besankahalwa.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-upsc-book-of-anything-and.html?m=1

http://besankahalwa.blogspot.com/2019/07/a_16.html?m=1

How do I prepare for UPSC GS 3?

I have been getting requests to share my strategy for GS-3 given the marks I have in this paper.

Please note following points in this regard. I have skipped some generic suggestions and highlighted few which might lead to marks argumentation.

Be updated with facts and figures on various aspects of economy: Sectoral contribution of GDP(Agriculture, industries, services), employment scenario. Within agriculture what is the contribution of cereal crops, non-cereal crops in farmers income, what is average farmers income, NPA and bad loans etc. Similar facts on other aspects of economy need to be prepared.
Use these facts and figure to strengthen your arguments.
Use charts and diagrams wherever possible ( Avoid overdoing though)
For GS-3 committee and commission names and their recommendations are important. Hence keep an eye on such committees, note down their central points.
Economic survey: do this religiously and use its suggestions in answers. Make Short notes of various chapters.
NITI ayog’s 3 years action agenda: many great suggestions are there which can be written in your answers.
Keep visiting NITI website. It keeps releasing new reports which might be useful for GS-3 like report on mobility, tackling air pollution in Delhi etc. These will add value to your answer.
Read Sendai framework document, read NDMP-2016. These will give you administrative skeleton ( accountability matrix) of disaster management. This will be handy in answering DM questions.
Use columnists and their central ideas. For example Isher Judge Ahulwalia wrote about Ambikapur model of SWM. I used this example in SWM question in this year’s mains. Such usage increases your credibility and helps in boosting marks.
Extending point 9, list down certain key columinst and keep an eye on their ideas, opinions. For example if there is a question on unemployment controversy in CSE-19, you can talk about how NITI Ayog’s CEO, Amitabh Kant highlights the issues in Calculation methodology of CSO. So preparation on these lines should be done. Similarly Ashok Gulati can be mentioned for agriculture issues.
Look for toppers copy and look for how they present their ideas on paper. I learnt many new diagrams and new ideas from Anudeep Durishetty( Rank 1, CSE2017) and other toppers through their written test papers.
When you read compilations or vision 365( Economics, Environment, security, Science & Tech) make Short, effective notes which are reproducible in exams.I have shared my GS-3 notes on these links. Have an idea on how to prepare notes for GS-3.

General Studies Notes

Until next time,

SKR

My General Studies Notes.

I have compiled my GS notes below. They are mostly on evernote. Being in a job I found evernote useful as I can access it from anywhere. My handwritten notes are very few.

These notes have been made from various sources: forumias material, visionias material, toppers answersheet, economic survey, heavy use of internet, NCERT books etc.

Many of these are not very neat and have been made for revision purpose.

Many notes are very small and serve only an indicative purpose like what are the various things one should cover (like NCERT Crux, Economic survey notes).

IMO aspirants can benefit more from my essay and GS-4 notes as it takes some time to collect good examples, quote for these two papers. I have worked upon these and you can further build upon that.

GS1,GS2,GS3 notes are more of compilation of various things I read. I just segregated them for easy revision.

I also made a number of notes on current affairs.

All these are listed below. If not the line-by-line reading, then a broad perusal might help you in understanding the architecture of notes making.

With best wishes,

SKR

Essay:

Your Personal Hooks/lines/conclusions

Data is the new oil